The Avant line by Blush Novelties has been at the top of my wish list for far too long. One of the best bigger brands making dildos and other silicone goods right now, their refined designs matched with eye-catching colours are hard to miss, and as the range has grown over the years so too has my desire to try one. The most popular of the line however has been their Pride (or “P”) range, which are a series of toys featuring the colours of flags relating to some of the more common sexual and gender identities. So, because I’m still in the process of deciding which flags best represent me (and I’d feel strange reviewing something not all my readers may feel is for them), it has put pause on getting one of these toys for myself. But when Blush announced their newest additions to the line last June for Pride, and the absolutely stunning D17 Lucky was part of it, I couldn’t quite resist any longer. Even better then was that despite its release date and resemblance to the bisexual flag (which I do identify with), it isn’t actually intended as part of their Avant Pride range (as denoted by the “D” in its name, presumably for dildo, rather than “P”), making it accessible for everyone.
Product Description
I fell in love with the Blush Novelties Avant D17 Lucky the moment I saw it on Betty’s Toy Box, and it is only more beautiful in person. A pastel gradient of blue, purple, and pink gives off a totally magical vibe, and this is further enhanced through the use of glitter that allows the toy to sparkle and shine. With a silky smooth silicone surface and firm yet squishy density, it then feels great to the touch and is a real joy to hold (a few places also refer to it as being dual-density, but it doesn’t really feel like it). Plus, while it may look cute, with a insertable length of 16.5cm / 6.5 inches (20cm / 8 inches in total) and maximum diameter of 3.8cm / 1.5 inches, this is still on the larger size of toys for me. The sleek refined shape definitely helps counteract this however, as while it is fairly phallic with a pronounced head and veins, these features are very subtle, allowing it to remain smooth. Not to mention the initial taper and the fact that the widest point is actually around the middle of the shaft, rather than at the start like usual. A base of white silicone then rests at the very end just after a quick dip in the toy’s girth, and it is here you’ll find the toy’s suction cup, which also ensures it is both anal-safe and harness compatible.
Packaging
My order with Betty’s Toy Box for the Blush Novelties Avant D17 Lucky was placed on the 3rd of June and I received it on the 23rd. The package was fully discreet, with no mention of the sender or the contents, and you can view a video of my unboxing here. Inside I then found the packaging for the D17 Lucky itself, which is as stylish and beautiful as the actual toy. A sturdy box featuring the toy’s pastel colour scheme, a white cover is then placed over this which features a clear window for viewing the item alongside general information about the Avant line and how to care for its products. Overall I love this, but I will say that the box does feel quite large for the toy, although considering the cover isn’t specific to the D17 I suspect this is because Blush use a standardised size across the whole range. In addition, there was also no sort of safety seal or plastic on the box when I received it, which I would have preferred, especially as the white cover is quite loose and slides off very easily, which may also be a concern if you plan to use it for future storage. Finally, all toys in the Blush Avant line do come with a five year warranty, but this is sadly only valid in the US and Canada.
My Experience
I loved the buttery silicone of the Blush Novelties Neo Elite 7.5 Inch, my only other dildo from this brand, and so I was so glad to see this was something that followed through to the D17 Lucky. Despite this though I do still need to warm up prior to use in order to take its girthy middle, and so I have found the Funkit Toys NoFrillDo R and Tantus Pack ‘n Play No.2 perfect for this. Inserting the squishy head is then easy, and while the medium-firm density combined with the above-average width does feel a bit bigger than I am use to, being able to work up to it slowly during play, rather than just having it located at the toy’s head like an initial hurdle I need to get over, is wonderful. Once in, I then find it doesn’t really target my G-Spot or A-Spot, but rather is ideal for thrusting and providing a filling feeling when squeezed around, and combining that with a clitoral vibrator, such as the Dame Kip, is a match made in heaven.
Unexpected Issues
The above notes are from my first test. As usual, I then popped it in some water for a quick clean, before washing it over with my bare hands. But that’s when I first noticed something was amiss. It was almost as if the Blush Novelties Avant D17 Lucky felt… different? Like it had a roughness to its surface that I didn’t recall feeling before. Since I was in a rush however, I quickly dismissed the thought and left the D17 out to dry. A few days later I then returned for its second test, and found my experience with it this time quite different. Suddenly the toy felt scratchy within me, a unpleasant sensation that saw me continually reapplying lubricant to try and fix without success. In the end I gave up, but this time when cleaning it I started to pay much closer attention…
As beautiful as the D17 Lucky’s glitter is, it seems it is also its downfall. You see, whist the glitter does appear to be at varying distances from the toy’s surface, there are more than a few pieces that are so close they can actually be felt, which is the cause of the scratchy feeling I had been experiencing. Worse yet is the fact that some are so close that if you simply run your finger over them, they will come out (!!!), and there has even been times where I have simply pressed my hand over it only for glitter flakes to come off into my palm. Plus, this is also probably why I didn’t notice the glitter being an issue initially, because the more I used and touched the D17, the more they started to come out of it. This is obviously a huge health risk, as glitter is not the sort of thing you want inside of you, and because of this it has also meant that I was sadly unable to continue with my testing.
Suction Cup
In regards to the suction cup, this isn’t a toy feature I personally make use of, but I have tested it out on a few surfaces around my home and, as with the Blush Novelties Neo Elite 7.5 Inch, it works really well and is one of the best I have tried. Once applied it sticks firmly to surfaces and essentially cannot be removed until the seal is broken, and so I would imagine it is ideal for use during play.
Cleaning & Care
Cleaning the Blush Novelties Avant D17 Lucky is easy as it is fully waterproof and doesn’t feature any heavily textured areas where bacteria may hide. Simply place it in some warm soapy water and give it a quick wash and rinse before leaving to air dry. After this you can store it however you want, such as in the box it came with, but I’d recommend using a zip-lock bag to keep it sanitary. In addition to this I’d also suggest sterilising the toy every few uses or when switching between partners or orifices, and you can do this by boiling it for three minutes. Lastly, make sure to only use water-based lubricants with this product, as others may have negative effects on the silicone, and discontinue use if you notice glitter coming off the toy like mine.
Final Thoughts
The Blush Novelties Avant D17 Lucky had so much going for it that a negative review seemed almost impossible. From its magical appearance and sleek design, to its perfect sizing and silky smooth silicone, I knew immediately I was going to love this toy, and honestly giving it a full review felt almost unnecessary. So you can imagine my surprise that not only is this a bad review, but that it is so bad that I wasn’t even able to complete my testing! In over six years of professionally reviewing sex toys, only a select few have caused health concerns enough for me to call off my tests, and I do believe this is the first dildo to achieve such a feat. Plus, while I’d like to imagine this is just a fault specific to my D17 Lucky, since becoming aware of it myself I have noticed more and more people sharing similar experiences with the toy. Overall, it seems the Avant D17 wasn’t so “Lucky” after all, as at this point I am unable to recommend it. However, I do sincerely hope Blush are able to resolve this issue quickly, as it would otherwise be a wonderful toy.
Updates
[3/9/21] After publishing my review Blush reached out to me directly. They let me know how much they appreciated my feedback and that they’re taking the issues myself and others have highlighted with the toy’s glitter very seriously. Alongside their factory team they are working hard to fix the Avant D17 Lucky and get it up to standard. In the meantime, however, they have assured me that the material and glitter used in this toy is safe and non-toxic. Blush also let me know they’ll be making overall improvements to their product development, production and quality control procedures to make sure something like this doesn’t occur again.
Material - 20%
Appearance - 90%
Solo - 50%
Partner - 50%
53%
Okay
This would have been a great toy if it weren't for the loose glitter making it non-body safe.
I received this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Affiliate links have been used in this post.